Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

No, I've never said a word against "commercially prepared products" in
general. I use some fish emulsion, seaweed extract, liquid molasses, and
even alfalfa meal. I am well within the mainstream of organic, sustainable
agriculture. Please don't paint me as some sort of fanatic. But I do not
use or recommend commercial products without good evidence of their need
and effectiveness for specific uses. I understand that highly specific
inoculants work for specific trees in certain soils, and certain legume
crops, but frankly I've never seen anyone show a need for inoculating
vegetables. By contrast, everyone in the organic movement urges more
organic matter or compost in soil. Big difference. 

As for that article from BioOrganics, Inc., the part about the potato soil
returning to a rock hard state after the potatoes were removed and fungi
died just doesn't pass the laugh test. 

This is not the place for commercial promotions.

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 3/8/2007 at 6:45 PM tech-terra organics wrote:

>Paul, I know you do not think commercially prepared products are a good 
>choice, but they do have their place in the grand scheme. While
>mycorrhizial 
>fungi spores are present everywhere, they sometimes need to be added for 
>efficient inoculations. I deal with mature trees all the time & have found

>that due to the disturbed sites they live in, inoculation can help. I
>think 
>it timely that the following post came to me independently immediately
>after 
>your post.
>Barry Draycott
>Tech-Terra Organics, LLC
>609-468-1905
>techterra@comcast.net
>
>Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
>Albert Einstein
>
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>Improving Your Clay Soils - Naturally.
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>
>The most frequent articles about mycorrhizal fungi deal with their ability

>to improve the nutrient and moisture uptake for host plants, which are 
>obviously important benefits.  However, we can't overlook the powerful 
>physical effects that the fungi have on the surrounding soil after they 
>colonize a plant's root system.
>
>After the fungi send their many millions of microscopic root-threads 
>(hyphae) out into the soil, acting like foraging hair roots, the effect on

>clay soil is to separate "stacked" clay platelets.  This allows air to 
>penetrate deep into the root zone and permits water to drain through
>without 
>causing soggy anaerobic conditions.
>
>Some years back, when we moved into a new home, I planted some extra
>potato 
>seeds in extremely heavy clay - had to work to wedge a shovel in. I was 
>surprised at how well the plants grew with no fertilizer, and even more 
>surprised when I went to dig some new potatoes for dinner one day.  I
>could 
>push my hand down several inches into the soil around the plants with no 
>effort.  It was like reaching into a bag of loose potting soil.  About 18 
>inches out from each plant, the soil was still rock-hard.  The mycorrhizal

>fungi had, in effect, created ideal growing conditions for their host
>plants 
>out of what would otherwise be a suffocating soil situation.
>
>I also found it interesting that about a month after the final harvest,
>the 
>spots where the potato plants were located went back to being just as 
>hard-packed as before.  These fungi are obligate organisms, dependent on 
>host plants, and could not continue living after the plant was dead. This
>is 
>part of a normal cycle for annuals, and there would be fungus spores left 
>behind in the soil for next year's crop. I still put a small pinch of new 
>inoculant on my transplants each spring, but it is probably not necessary
>as 
>long as the soil has not been drenched with liquid fertilizer or
>fungicides.
>
>Rototilling will fluff up soil for a short time, but having the right type

>of mycorrhizae on plant roots will keep it fluffed for the season.  Both 
>commercial growers and home gardeners can use this technique to their 
>advantage - putting nature to work for you.
>
>Soil chemistry still dominates our cultural practices, but microbiology is

>gaining ground (or soil?) each year because of advantages in cost, 
>performance, and sustainability.  Good healthy soil produces good healthy 
>plants.
>
>Cheers, and have a great growing season this year,
>
>Don Chapman
>President
>BioOrganics, Inc.
>______________________
>
>BioOrganics Inc. News
>3/8/2007
>
>